Finding a Reputable Alaskan Klee Kai Breeder

The process of finding an Alaskan Klee Kai breeder takes time and research. Not all breeders are equal, for every few who are working towards improving the breed, there will be those who are only breeding for monetary gains. With the increasing popularity of the breed, some individuals have also started to breed Alaskan Klee Kai with other spitz type dogs to produce Alaskan Klee Kai mixes, which are often passed off as “purebreds.” Click here to read more about such scams. In this article, we will be discussing what to look for in a good, ethical breeder and what to avoid.

A Good breeder will always do health testing for the breed

Health tests are crucial in determining the genetic health of a dog, and are always performed by reputable breeders. The process also allows for them to remove breeding dogs with subpar health results from their breeding pool in order to prevent the genes from being passed onto future generations. As a breed, the Alaskan Klee Kai should be tested for factor VII deficiency, luxating patella and thyroid disease; OFA cardiac and CERF eye exams are also recommended. Breeders should be able to provide you with the reference numbers of these tests upon request so that you are able to cross reference the information with that provided on the OFA website.

A good breeder will always offer to take your dog back, if for any reason, you are unable to keep him

In the unfortunate situation where you are unable to keep your Alaskan Klee Kai, a good breeder will always offer to take him back no questions asked, regardless of his age and condition. They care about the dogs they’ve helped create and want to make sure the dogs have a good home for their entire life. In many cases, this will actually be stated in the contract that you will be signing upon purchase of the puppy.

A good breeder will interview you and will not hesitate to turn you away if you are not a good fit

Good breeders want to ensure that their puppies are going into loving homes; many will not agree to sell to someone whom they do not know anything about. More often than not, they will be interviewing and asking prospective buyers questions about their lifestyles to ensure that there is a good match before any promises of a puppy are made. Be wary if your breeder does not seem to be interested in getting to know you as a prospective buyer.

A good breeder will allow you to see the living conditions of the dogs and puppies

This is often done by visiting the breeders home, as it allows you to see the environment in which the puppies have been raised. It also gives you an opportunity to observe how the puppies interact with each other and their mother. However having said this, some breeders may value their privacy a little bit more and while it may not be as ideal for some prospective buyers, it is an option to see and observe the puppies’ living environments through other methods such as through videos and photos. Be wary if your breeder is reluctant to offer you any information regarding the living conditions of their dogs, as this may often be due to the fact that the puppies are being raised in unideal environments.

A good breeder will encourage and allow you to see the parents of the puppies

This is often done in conjunction with the home visit, assuming that the breeders owns both the dam and sire and that they are both onsite. If the breeder is involved with dog events such as shows and trials, you may also ask to meet with them then. Ideally, you would want to observe the temperaments of the dam and sire as it is likely that their puppies will be similar in temperament.

A good breeder will provide you with the UKC papers for your puppy

Breeders should always provide you with the UKC papers for your puppy, this ensures that your Alaskan Klee Kai is registered and purebred. These papers are often sent to the puppy’s owner after proof of neutering/spaying is received by the breeder. Since it may take up to a year for a puppy to be altered, you may wish to request that the breeder show you the registration papers of the sire and dam as proof that your puppy is registered before you are able to receive his papers.

A good breeder will have a vision of what they are breeding for

A good breeder should be able to answer you when asked about their priorities when breeding a given pair of dogs; this allows you to feel whether or not they are breeding for temperament, health or looks. They should have a goal in mind in regards to their breeding, and should only be pairing dogs together that compliment each other.

Some red flags to avoid:

– If there is no mention of any health testing on the dogs
– Dogs that are advertised as being “show quality” or from “working lines” – These terms are meaningless unless the dog has won actual show or working titles.
– Breeders that allow you to pick up your puppy before the age of 8 weeks
– Breeders who do not ask any questions about you and your lifestyle
– Breeders who are reluctant to/will not answer your questions
– Breeders who do not provide you with genetic clearances for the sire and dam of their puppies
– Breeders who do not provide a written contract which includes the terms of purchase and a health warranty

Given these points, you should be able to determine whether or not a breeder has the breed’s best interests at heart. Remember that while the breeder will be interviewing you- the prospective buyer, you will also be interviewing them as you have the right of making sure that the puppy you will be bringing home is one from a great home environment. Do not hesitant to ask questions as a reputable breeder will always be more than happy to provide you with answers.

For tips on finding an Alaskan Klee Kai for sale, visit our tips on finding an AKK page!